Altoona Area High School will soon start the search for two new varsity basketball coaches.
According to Altoona Area School District superintendent Charles Prijatelj, boys basketball coach Doug West and girls basketball coach Miriam Colledge will not return to coach next season.
According to Prijatelj, West has family in the Philadelphia area and he will coach in that area at a school or college.
West is a decorated alumnus of Altoona Area High School. He played college basketball at Villanova before being drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the 1989 NBA Draft.
West coached the Mountain Lions for three seasons starting in 2016.
His coaching stops include head coach at Penn State Altoona, an assistant in the NBA G League, an assistant under Jay Wright at Villanova, an assistant for Duquesne women’s basketball, and other high school coaching stops.
According to Superintendent Prijatelj, Colledge is stepping down to spend more time with family.
Colledge is also an Altoona Area High School graduate. She took over the team in 2014 serving as varsity head coach for five seasons.
Colledge was also a member of the 1981 Altoona girls basketball state championship team.
Prijatelj said the school board is informed of the change and the district hopes to make recommendations for new hires sometime in June.